Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.

A federal judge in Delaware deferred a decision today on whether to accept or reject Hunter

Biden's deal with the government to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and enter a diversion

program for a felony firearms charge.

Chris Bearish from Member Station W.H.Y.

has more.

U.S. District Judge Mary Ellen Norraika had a rash of questions for prosecutors and lawyers

for President Biden's son.

The judge questioned several key aspects of the plea deal.

Norraika also determined that the party's disagreeer or the scope of possible future charges

in the ongoing five-year probe into Biden's business dealings.

She also questioned why the party decided that she would rule on whether Biden had committed

any violations of the deal in the gun case.

He's charged with the legal possession of a firearm by someone addicted to drugs.

Norraika ordered both sides to file briefs on those issues.

Biden had been prepared to plead guilty to willful failure to pay taxes from 2017 and

2018.

But ultimately pleaded not guilty.

For MPR News, I'm Chris Bearish.

In Niger, the country's president, Mohammed Bazoum, has been removed from power.

That according to soldiers who appeared on the West African nation's state TV late

today, hours after the president was held in the presidential palace.

...